FWP Commission Extends Montana Wolf Hunting Season to February 15th

[CedarPants]

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-extends-wolf-hunting-season-to-feb/article_89543222-21f6-11e1-badb-001871e3ce6c.html


HELENA - Hunters now have until Feb. 15 to bag a wolf in Montana.

The season was supposed to end on Dec. 31, but since only 106 wolves out of a quota of 220 have been taken so far, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission decided Thursday to extend the season.

"This is just the second time we have had a wolf hunt ... and we are still learning as we go," said Bob Ream, FWP Commission chairman, who added that while the hunt might not reach the quota this year, that doesn't mean it wasn't a success. "There will be more harvest in the next few months, and we'll see how we are doing when we meet again in January. We may want to make some changes then.

"It seems to be going well and I think we have come a long way."

FWP is tasked with managing wolves in Montana after their removal from the list of endangered species earlier this year, and the wolf hunt is one of the tools used to keep their population in check.

Scientific modeling by FWP anticipated reaching the quota would drop the known wolf population of 566 anywhere from 7 percent to 25 percent.

The majority of those who spoke on the proposal at the FWP Commission's monthly meeting supported the season extension, and some added that they would like to see open hunting until the quota is filled to better protect ungulates and livestock.

"People who are not in favor have nothing to lose. It's not affecting their pocketbook," said Brian Quigley of the Rocky Mountain Stockgrowers Association. "It is affecting a lot of us in the livestock industry."

Steve Holt of Dillon added that in one area he knows of, the elk herd is at 25 percent of the 15-year average. The quota for wolf management unit 250 there is 22, but only three have been taken.

"I think it's a lot more complicated, trying to get those wolves," Holt said. "I support anything we can do to get those wolves."

But Marc Cooke, co-president of the National Wolfwatcher Coalition, said they're "adamantly opposed" to the season extension.

"There's a study going on in the Bitterroot; let it conclude," Cooke said. "And if people aren't getting wolves when the weather is convenient, how will they get them when there's 5 or 6 feet of snow in the backcountry?"

Quentin Kujala, the FWP wildlife management section chief, noted that the agency originally considered extending the season until Jan. 31, but based on the low harvest numbers decided to add two more weeks. He said that since the proposal initially was made public, about 100 comments were received, and as with other wolf proposals, the perspectives were "quite diverse."

He added that as FWP looked further into the proposal, it also proposed - and the commission supported - not mandating hunters to wear bright orange vests as they have to during regular big-game season.

"We have flexibility in relaxing that since wolf hunters would be hunting a species in need of management," Kujala said.

Commissioner Shane Colton said he's heard some criticism that they're not allowing other methods of take, like trapping, and not allowing people to use mechanical calls to bring in wolves.

"It's not appropriate to come running in with other methods at this point," Colton said. "We're not allowed to operate in that manner.

"But we are listening to all you folks and we are spending a lot of time trying to figure out what to do here, and I believe we are being pretty proactive when it comes to this animal."

[Boss .300 winmag]

No hunting calls, is this the kinder gentler hunting methods. Its a predator WTF 

[CedarPants]

That part is frustrating for sure.

I am pleased though to see them basically throwing science in the face of the pro-wolf groups by adapting the season not to the calendar, but to the number of wolves harvested.  The pro-wolfers scream about the need for "science based plans", but when a state agency actually puts together a plan that includes necessary lethal take as part of their science based plan ... the pro-wolfers throw science out the window and cry foul-play. 

Montana's commission seems to be very cognizant of the fact that a calendar does not dictate science in this regard.  Their plan, which is based on science, called for the lethal removal of a certain amount of wolves in order to maintain a balanced ecosystem - and it looks like they fully intend to stick to that plan.

It's comical yet alarming to me that pro-wolfers scream about scientifically balanced plans being what is needed for our ecosystems, but that one necessary aspect of these scientifically balanced plans (lethal take) should either succeed or fail based on a calendar date

[Special T]

There is oneway to find them in 6ft of snow... SNOW MOBILES!   I would think that would provide the ability to do some high speed tracking!

[mulehunter]

State targets Lolo wolves Idaho Fish & Game plans to enlist government trappers and helicopter gunners

· Story Posted: Friday, December 9, 2011 12:00 am

State targets Lolo wolves By ERIC BARKER of the Tribune | 2 comments

An Idaho Department of Fish and Game official said Thursday the state will use aerial gunning and professional and government trappers to kill wolves in the Lolo Zone, even as public hunting and trapping seasons continue. Dave Cadwallader, supervisor of the department's Clearwater Region, said he wants a multipronged approach to wolf control in the difficult-to-access area where elk herds are hurting. "My goal is not to wait," he said. "Let's layer all of those tools over the top of each other and try to implement each of them." The department's conservation officers who patrol the Lochsa River portion of the Lolo Zone are poised to begin trapping efforts in the next several days. The department is seeking to hire an experienced wolf trapper from Alaska or Canada to work in the more remote North Fork Clearwater basin, and plans to enlist the help of federal agents from the Wildlife Services agency in a helicopter- gunning exercise later this winter. Idaho's wolf hunting season opened in late August, but only six wolves have been harvested in the Lolo Zone that includes the Upper Lochsa and North Fork Clearwater river basins. That is far fewer than the 50 to 60 wildlife managers want to remove from the area, where elk numbers have fallen from a high of about 16,000 in the late 1980s to about 2,000 today. The steep drop is blamed on a combination of poor habitat conditions and predation from wolves, mountain lions and black bears. Researchers from the department recently determined wolves are the primary cause of elk mortality in the zone. This spring, shortly after Endangered Species Act protections were removed, the department used helicopter gunning to kill five. The effort was suspended because of its high cost and low success rate, which was blamed on wolves and elk moving to lower elevations where snow had melted. This year, aerial gunning will be timed to occur when snowpacks are heavy even at lower elevations. Snow makes the animals easier to see. Cadwallader said despite the department's tight budget, due in part to the effect wolves are having on the sale of elk hunting tags, it will open its coffers to fund the controversial and expensive control method. "Certainly everyone understands we have an issue here and we are going to have to spend some money to try to fix it," he said. "We have been told we will have some money to pay for helicopter time and wages for trappers if we can find some." Wolves in Idaho and Montana were returned to state management last spring after Congress removed federal protections. A handful of environmental groups, including the Moscow-based Friends of the Clearwater and the larger Center of Biological Diversity are challenging that move as unconstitutional and waiting for a ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity called the extra wolf control measures angering and above and beyond the careful management state officials promised before delisting. "The states were talking about measured actions and it turns out as soon as federal protection were lifted they are using every possible means they can to kill as many wolves as they can and there is nothing measured or rational about this," he said. Brett Haverstick of Friends of the Clearwater wondered how much time and money the state would spend in its effort to kill wolves. "What is next? Is Idaho Fish and Game going to call in the Idaho National Guard. Where are we going to draw the line and say this is one of the most rugged, beautiful and wild places left in the Lower 48, instead of spending all of this time, money and energy maybe Idaho Fish and Game should focus on 'managing' wolves in places that are less wild?" Wolf hunting season runs through June 30 in the Lolo Zone and a four-month wolf trapping season opened last month in the Lolo, Selway and Frank Church zones and parts of the Panhandle and Dworshak-Elk City zones. Cadwallader said the department is still hopeful trappers and hunters will be successful. Through Thursday hunters killed 153 wolves in the state and trappers had killed one. There have been 28 killed in the Dworshak-Elk City zones that stretches roughly from Elk River to Elk City, six in the Lolo Zone, two in the Palouse-Hells Canyon Zone, and four in the Selway Zone. There is no quota on the number of wolves that can be killed during the hunting and trapping season. Department director Virgil Moore said he wants to significantly reduce the wolf population but stay comfortably above the 150 level that would cue a federal review and could lead to relisting them under the ESA.

56 minutes ago

[mulehunter]

Look like two states having hard time to manage it.  Good example to prove it to WDFW.  Good job people.

[bearpaw]

Excellent point mulehunter, WDFW has no clue what this state is in for..... or do they? 

[CAMPMEAT]

There is oneway to find them in 6ft of snow... SNOW MOBILES!   I would think that would provide the ability to do some high speed tracking!

That was a no-brainer for sure. I think the greenies need a group hug. 

[seth30]

There is oneway to find them in 6ft of snow... SNOW MOBILES!   I would think that would provide the ability to do some high speed tracking!

That was a no-brainer for sure. I think the greenies need a group hug. 

[asl20bball]

In the early 1900's the Feds couldn't even get rid of the wolves by hunting either...they had to poison them. By the 1930's the only state in the lower 48 with wolves was MN.  If in our history the FEDS wanted to get rid of the wolf what does that tell us about the effect the wolves had on the environment...why do we think we are soooo smart today to ignore history both pas and present history?

Anyway, these animals are much tougher to hunt than you'd think I'd say. They are smart, work together, and just about nocturnal as far as their killing goes.

[deerslyr]

Man I wish I was a resident here already  I know of a rancher that has some running around his place that would love for me to put the smack down on em

[Gamblin Guy]

How ironic is this.....

Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity...

[seth30]

If I was hunting in one of those states, I would try to get a group of guys together.  Then try using several howlers at once.  It might just work....